Style & Fashion

To Contour or To Strobe? We Lay Down their Pros and Cons So You Can Decide For Yourself

We believe that it’s to each her own, so while strobing, a.k.a. extra highlighting for a perfect dewy glow, is ultra hot right now, we won’t tell you to totally close your doors on contouring. The latter still does a great job of sculpting your face (no wonder Kim Kardashian loves it so much) and will do so for eternity, hence it’s best to keep your options open.

To help you come up with the best decision for your skin type, lifestyle, and #beautygoals, we asked in demand makeup artists Mickey See and Owen Sarmiento to share with us their expert points of view:

If you want really chiseled cheeks and features…“Contouring will still help you achieve that sculpted look better, and has better staying power,” notes Mickey, the go-to makeup artist of stars like Liza Soberano, Janella Salvador, and Bea Alonzo. “There’s a tendency for strobing to slide off when you’re out under the sun all day.” To avoid harsh contours, three to four darker shades of powder and a good angled contouring brush are your power tools. Mickey warns, “Stay away from reddish browns. Always remember you’re creating the illusion of shadows so you can’t use just one powder shade—go from the darkest shade to the lightest one when contouring. Finish off with loose powder to soften the look.”

If you want to cut down your makeup time in the morning…“Go for strobing because it’s simpler and easier,” says Owen, whose celebrity clients include Yeng Constantino, Julia Barretto, and Claudia Barretto. “Contouring usually goes wrong if you don’t use the right shades and textures, and if it’s placed in the wrong places.” Too harsh contouring can look like dirt on the face, so if you don’t want to have to deal with this ever because you’re always in a rush, pick strobing.

If you’re still working on getting a good complexion…“Stick to contouring. Since you use shimmer when strobing, you really have to have great skin because it can get oily—use oil control products if you must,” says Mickey. Whether you want to strobe or not, it’s still best to find the right regimen so you can achieve naturally glowing skin.

If you want a look that’s so now… Strobing is for you. From Hollywood to local showbiz, so many women are into it because while it helps enhance your face, it doesn’t require too much effort. Here is Owen’s two-step guide to strobing perfection:

2. "Choose the kind of shimmer you like and just apply where you want to shine. The color of your highlighter is easier to blend onto the skin; also just avoid the places where you don’t want to shine.”

Contour today, strobe tomorrow—try both, see what works for you, decide what you’d like to have for the day. There's nothing more beautiful than a woman who goes for what floats her boat.